Traffic Sign Policy

Keeping the Roads Safe

St. Louis County is in the process of adopting a traffic sign policy to establish uniformity in the installation and maintenance of traffic signs on the county highway system. The policy will ensure compliance with the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MnMUTCD) requirement of an assessment and management method that maintains the minimum level of sign retroreflectivity. The proposed policy recognizes that the MnMUTCD is the standard for all traffic control devices on all roads open to public travel in Minnesota. Therefore, all traffic control devices on the St. Louis County highway system shall conform to its standards and specifications as specified in Minnesota Statute 169.06.

The MnMUTCD states the basic requirements of a traffic sign are:

To fulfill a need for traffic operations or traffic safety

Champion a command of attention of drivers

Provide drivers a clear and simple meaning so they understand what to do

Ensure the driver can plainly see the actual condition for why the traffic sign is installed

Be placed in such a way as to provide adequate response time for the driver to react

A key approach to accomplish these basic requirements is through a conservative use of traffic signs. A conservative use of traffic signs not only reduces maintenance costs, but is understood to improve the effectiveness of those remaining traffic signs, which cumulatively improves traffic safety for all users and pursues the goals of the Minnesota Toward Zero Death partnership in St. Louis County.